High Yield Corn Study

Key Points

Yield Increase: At the PTI Farm, we consistently see yields above 360 Bu/A. with our high management corn program. We broke our record in 2022 with yields up to 398.4 Bu/A.
Net Returns: In 2022, the average net return for our high management corn program was +$271.34/A However, we saw net returns up to +$630.74/A.
Consistency is Key: Effective high management programs are never one-and-done solutions. This is about consistently “spoon feeding” the crop what it needs at each phase of the growing season.
At-Plant Nutrition: A core part of our high yield corn program is placing fertilizer in and near the furrow during planting, using FurrowJet^® and Conceal^®.

How do you get high-yield corn?

This is one of our favorite questions to ask here at the PTI Farm! Did you know that, since our research farm was created in 2018, our high yield corn study has ranked #1 or #2 on our Top 10 ROI list on the farm every single year?

This is a unique program that involves in-depth consideration of the nutrition plan throughout the growing season, water management (and irrigation) through drainage tile, recycled rain water initiatives, Netafim Drip Tape, and more.

Just like we eat three times a day, crops need regular nutrition and support to continue growing effectively. We want our crops to be healthy and thriving from plant until harvest. In order to accomplish that, we want to take as many variables as we can out of farming to ensure the crops have a healthy environment to grow in.

3 images showcasing 5 Point touch nutrition placement in-furrow and 2x2 with FurrowJet and Conceal bands.

Chart of the protocol used for the High Management Corn Yield Study at the PTI Farm

In 2022, the control in our study was dryland, non-strip-crop, and status quo low management corn planted at 36K and fertilized with only dry 9-23-30 and 180# nitrogen. This resulted in yields of 242.5 Bu/A.

In our 2022 high management program, yields ranged from a low of 285 Bu/A to a high of 398.4 Bu/A. In the past four years at the PTI Farm, 368.2 had been our highest yield recorded. 2022 broke that yield level with three entries, all over the 368.2 threshold. Average corn yield in the irrigated entries in 2022 resulted in 335.4 Bu/A.